United States Ninth Circuit

In an ERISA battle between the eight and ninth wives of a deceased pension holder, judgment in favor of defendant is affirmed in part and reversed in part because a plan participant's retirement vests Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity (QJSA) interests in the spouse at time of retirement, cutting off an alternative payee's ability to subsequently obtain a qualified domestic relations order changing the plan's beneficiary.

Appellate Information

• Argued 03/11/2008
• Decided 09/17/2008
• Published 09/17/2008

Judges

• CLIFTON, Circuit Judge:, Before: HAWKINS, SIDNEY R. THOMAS, and RICHARD R. CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• William E. Freedman (argued), William E. Freedman, Chartered, Las Vegas, NV, for plaintiff/appellant Janis Carmona., Adam S. Segal (argued), Jessica C. Espinoza, Schreck Brignone, PC, Las Vegas, NV, for cross-claimant/appellant Nevada Resort Association International Alliance of Theatrical & State Employees Local 720.


• For Appellees:
  
• Marshal S. Willick (argued), Willick Law Group, Las Vegas, NV, for defendant/cross-defendant/appellee Judy Carmona., Sheri Ann F. Forbes (argued), Thomas F. Kummer, Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario, Las Vegas, NV, for defendant/appellee Hilton Hotels Corporation, Retirement Plan.